Head and Neck Cancer Research

Ear trauma at King Fahad Hospital of the University

Introduction & Objectives: Trauma to the ear can be a consequence of several aetiologies that may include motor vehicle accidents, violence, or accidental traumas. Ear trauma can range from simple blunt trauma to the pinna, through uncomplicated rupture of tympanic membrane to temporal bone fracture. The aim of this study is to review the various aetiologies, types, and presentations of ear trauma among trauma patients admitted to KFHU from 2008 to 2013. Methods: All medical charts of trauma patients admitted to KFHU over a five years period (2008–2013) were retrospectively reviewed and the data regarding ear trauma were extracted. Different aetiologies of ear trauma were identified including: Motor vehicle accidents, violence, accidental traumas, and occupational causes. Regarding the types of ear trauma; it has been classified into 1) soft tissue injury, 2) temporal bone fracture, and 3) mixed injury (combination of soft tissue and temporal bone injury). The data retrieved were entered and analyzed descriptively using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Results: Over a five years period (2008-2013), a total number of 3203 trauma patients were admitted to the hospital. 54% were cases of motor vehicle accident, 30% were accidental traumas, and 8.96% were due to violence. Out of these 3203 trauma cases, thirty three (1.03%) suffered from ear trauma. The mean age was found to be 25.61 years. The most common aetiologies of these ear traumas were motor vehicle accident (60.6%), followed by violence (27.3%). Regarding the types of ear trauma; thirty one (93.9%) patients presented with soft tissue injury, one patient with temporal bone fracture, and one patient with mixed injury. The most common clinical presentations of ear trauma were laceration of the auricle (81.8%), bleeding from the ear (21.2%), hematoma of the auricle (15.2%), and hearing loss (12.1%). Conclusion: Trauma to the ear is an uncommon injury among trauma patients. Ear trauma patients presented with soft tissue injury are more frequent than trauma causing temporal bone fracture. We should keep in concern that there may be a lot of unrecorded or missed cases of temporal bone fractures due to its occurrence with severe trauma which takes the physician attention towards more serious life threatening findings.

Author(s): Majid A Aldossary

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